BOISE, Idaho (CBS2) — The Idaho Food Bank has a new CEO, as Randy Ford, the Bank’s COO for the last three years, takes the reins of the organization going forward.

Serving over 213,000 individuals across Idaho each month, the Idaho Food Bank prides itself on building community partnerships, identifying areas of food insecurity in the community, and finding ways to combat it.

“I took the opportunity to really put forth the efforts that I’ve made over the last three years and how we can further extend that into the communities,” Ford said. “I’m really excited to be working with a wonderful group of people, in a different capacity, to end hunger in Idaho.”

Ford said his leadership would not change the priorities of the organization, but that he his team had as ever found new areas of need in the community that require the Food Bank’s intervention.

“The senior population is experiencing [food insecurity],” Ford said. “We’ve noticed that uptick in need throughout those communities. Then we also have programs in school pantries as well as backpack programs.”

With the 2023 Great Idaho Food Drive underway, Ford asked the Boise community to consider donating foods or spend some time volunteering with the organization.

“We welcome volunteering, we welcome donations,” Ford said. “We also have our partner organizations, maybe there’s a partner organization that’s closer to your home that you can volunteer at. Volunteering is a huge part of how people can give back to the community.”

Greatest on the Idaho Food Bank’s list of needs this winter: shelf stable foods, soups, cereal, and other non-perishables, Ford said.

“Through a culture of care and a tradition of collaboration, the Idaho Food Bank hopes to end hunger in Idaho for good.” Ford said.